Deputy Rey "El Rey" Davalos with the Polk County Sheriff's Office catches a suspect with the goods.
Stolen Tailgate Quickly Recovered from Traffic Stop (driving with no headlights at night), LIVINGSTON, December 15, 2016 - Shortly before 7 pm on December 14, 2016, a report came to the Livingston Police Department of a tailgate that had been stolen off of a pickup in the parking lot of Livingston Walmart. Officers with the Livingston Police Department were dispatched to investigate. The theft had just happened. Within minutes, Deputy Rey "El Rey" Davalos with the Polk County Sheriff's Office was in the area and initiated a traffic stop on a Dodge pickup for driving at night with no headlights (pulled over in the parking lot of McDonalds). The pickup was being driven by Shane Allen Nelson, 19, of Livingston (Nelson also had a local 15 year old youth as a passenger). Doing what police are trained to do, Deputy Davalos looked in the bed of Nelson's pickup and VIOLA! there was a pickup tailgate. Davalos was quickly joined by Trooper Ramey Bass with the Texas Highway Patrol, Officer Adam Williford with the Livingston PD and Sergeant Chad Ward (also with LPD). Nelson and his passenger were both taken into custody. Nelson is facing charges for the alleged theft. What appears to have happened was the tailgate on Nelson's pickup was damaged so it appears he went shopping in the parking lot of Walmart to find another pickup like his own and help himself to someone's else's tailgate. The owner of the tailgate was summoned to the scene and his tailgate returned. Nelson's vehicle was towed by Ken's Towing and will be stored at Harrison Body Shop.
19 year old Shane Allen Nelson was taken into custody and is facing charges.
Nelson's 15 year old passenger was also taken into custody.
The owner of the stolen tailgate was summoned to get his tailgate back (notice the damaged tailgate on Nelson's pickup).
The pickup that was stolen from.
Nelson's pickup was towed by Ken's Towing.
Heidi was on duty for PolkCountyToday.com.
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